With heavy hearts we acknowledge the passing of Debra Teare on November 10, 2018. Debra Ann Campbell Teare was born July 11, 1955, in Logan, Utah, to Don Spencer Campbell and Julia Picket Campbell. She was the third of four children and lived next door to six energetic cousins. Growing up on Logan’s “Island” she experienced an idyllic childhood, graduating from Logan High in 1973.
She studied Illustration at Utah State University and worked as an executive secretary at Bridgerland Vocational Center. In 1982 she met her future husband, Brad Teare, at a Christmas dance. They were married July 20, 1983, in the Logan Temple.
Their daughter Ashley was born in Logan, Utah, in 1985. In 1989 Deb and her family moved to Rhinebeck, New York, where Brad worked as a freelance illustrator and she provided support for him and Ashley. In 1993 they moved back to Logan, where Brad pursued a career with the Friend Magazine and Deb began painting trompe l’oeil paintings. Her career as a painter blossomed, and her work was featured in galleries and museums across America.
Throughout her life Deb served faithfully in church callings in Primary, Young Women’s, and Relief Society. Everywhere she lived, Deb was embraced as a loving friend. She was cherished by her family for her cheerfulness and loving smile. She enjoyed traveling with her husband on art trips where she often collected antiques for her paintings. She loved to garden and in her last year grew a remarkable garden that fed her family both physically and spiritually.
Deb was always generous and loving. She was a genuine person who was always ready to help those in need. She had a strong testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and loved reading the scriptures and sharing her insights with her husband. Deb was raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and participated in the activities and ordinances of the gospel. Deb responded to a Stake President’s challenge to read the Book of Mormon within six months. She felt a spiritual prompting to accept that challenge, and with a lifelong faith already established she delved into the Book of Mormon. This was not the first time Deb had read the Book of Mormon. She had seen lifelong members of the church and converts with burning testimonies. She felt she needed to follow Moroni’s promise in Moroni 10:4 – “And, when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.” In Deb’s scriptures, the words ‘real intent’ are highlighted twice as darkly as the rest of this verse.
Deb’s sincerity was answered with an enlarging and deepening of her testimony. She shared with Brad the feelings of warmth and reassurance she experienced after reading Moroni 7:48: “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.’ This scripture touched her deeply enough that she memorized it. In sharing this experience with Brad she saw this as her moment of ‘true conversion’. Deb wrote a cross-reference to Matthew 16:24-25 which says: ‘Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it.’
Deb’s life and service embodied her love for her Heavenly Father and her Savior Jesus Christ.
She was a best friend to her eternal sweetheart and their daughter. Her family loved spending time together and learned the art of compassion from Deb. She loved animals as well. Some of her favorites times were going on long daily walks with her dogs Freckles and Pixel.
Her last year was one of the best years her family had experienced together. She helped her daughter fix and decorate her house and yard; the home that Deb grew up in on ‘Logan’s Island’. They also loved spending time together on Ashley’s front porch looking at the newly planted garden while enjoying lunch or just enjoying each other’s company. Brad and Deb spent a lot of time in their new studio where Deb helped by offering color and composition suggestions for his paintings. They worked as a team in nearly everything they did. She and her husband assembled nearly the entire collection of Charles Wysocki puzzles. She also created a beautiful rock garden outside the new studio. Deb’s artistic soul can be seen everywhere you look in their home and garden. She will be deeply missed.
In the spring of 2018, Deb began to suffer from the effects of hemolytic anemia. After months of fatigue she underwent surgery. Due to complications she passed away November 10, 2018.
Debra is survived by her husband, Brad Teare, and daughter, Ashley Teare, both of Logan, Utah. Also surviving are her sisters Christy Woffinden and Jolene Campbell, her brother Michael Campbell and numerous nieces and nephews.
Burial will immediately follow this service at the Providence City Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Humanitarian Aid Fund.
Many of you here today have known Deb her whole life. How blessed you are!
I met Deb 26 years ago when I married Brad’s brother, Steve. She was so welcoming and accepting and we have enjoyed our connection over the years. Her influence will be felt for the rest of our lives. And we will continue to be blessed by having known her.
In closing, I’d like to share a poem titled Pieces.
There’s a piece
of me
That’s missing.
It looks a lot
Like you.
It tastes like
lemon sunshine,
Or skies of gray
or blue.
There’s a hole
Where you once were
In my heart,
In my life.
I cannot squeeze my arms
tightly enough
To hold your shape
To me.
The puzzle piece is gone
for now.
The hole
No-one else
Can fill.
But, one day
I will look
Into the hole
And it will be filled
With love,
and warmth,
and sweet memories
Of you.
I testify to you that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of our living Heavenly Father. This mortal life is only a small, but necessary portion of God’s Plan of Salvation. And while we will be forever changed by losing Deb now, we will see her again. I know this to be true. So did Deb.
Terrie Teare
Deb’s Sister-in-law